Trial of Irish pro-Palestine activist in Germany not a show trial – Merz

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has denied that the trial of an Irish Palestine protester is a show trial and said the judiciary is independent.

Merz was asked about the case during a visit to Dublin to meet with Taoiseach Micheál Martin as part of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the EU.

Daniel Tatlow Devally, 32, from Dublin, is one of five people on trial in Germany charged with criminal damage against Elbit Systems, a firm that supplies weapons systems to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

A cross-party delegation of Irish politicians attended a hearing in his trial in Stuttgart last week, where they raised concerns about the “incredibly harsh” conditions he was being kept in and the legal process – in particular that no recording or transcription of the trial is being kept.

I have absolutely no doubt that regardless of any nationality, judicial processes in Germany are conducted according to internationally valid standards

Both an opposition and a government politician, TDs Richard Boyd Barrett and Barry Ward respectively, have compared it to a “show trial”.

At a press conference at Farmleigh House in Dublin on Tuesday, Merz was asked about the accusations of a “show trial”.

“I want to comment on that very simply, to say we have a judicial process in Germany, consular assistance is being provided,” he said.

“The accused are being provided with a legal defence team and I have absolutely no doubt that regardless of any nationality, judicial processes in Germany are conducted according to internationally valid standards.

“There is no doubt about that.

“The German justice system is independent and is also obliged to follow legal standards, and there is no doubt that cases are handled according to those standards in Germany, regardless of the nationality of the accused.”

Martin said the Government does not comment on “live” cases but said consular assistance had been offered to the Irishman and his family.

He said: “There’s been up to six visits to Daniel Tatlow Devally and a dedicated consular office in the Consulate General of Ireland in Munich has been assigned to support the citizen and their family, and, indeed, I think our consular officials were facilitative in respect of the recent Oireachtas, the parliamentary delegation, that went to visit and to be at the trial also.”

Merz also spoke at length about the German government’s expectations for the EU budget and about his concern at a decline in enthusiasm for EU competitiveness in an eight-minute statement at the joint press conference.

Martin expressed his “deepest condolences” for those killed and injured in the attack at Berlin Pride at the weekend.

“Pride celebrates important European values: inclusion, equality, respect,” he said, adding that such attacks should “not ever be tolerated”.